This patent specification relates to rainwater capture. More particularly this specification relates to a roof system for the collection of rainwater.
Mankind faces water shortage in many places around the globe. Desalination is costly and power hungry. The roofs of houses, commercial, civic and governmental structures have been used to capture precipitation falling upon the external shell of these buildings. Generally speaking it is the roofs of the buildings which are most to often used for this purpose. There have been many forms of building structure developed over the ages with the external cladding being usually of ceramic, cement, stone, metal, plastic, cloth or timber. In some instances a combination of two or more of these materials have been used. The buildings are generally erected such that the roof is above a floor of the building which is adapted for carrying the contents of the building. Other forms of roofed buildings developed by man include greenhouses and the like for sheltering plants and livestock with the floor being sometimes the bare ground. These known buildings roofs are a cover for a three dimensional space laying under the roof with the space being the or at least a prime objective of the building. The known building is substantially rigid and so if one wishes to make a very large scale building there comes to light problems associated with thermal expansion and ground movement beneath the building which can cause the building to become distorted due to differing expansion coefficients and thereby lead to roof and building failure. To ward against this builders have sought to create monolithic foundations being very rigid so distortion can be minimized as distortion becomes a greater concern the larger the building and is a limiter of building scale. An ancient prior art attempt to capture rainwater may be found in Spain which involves the tiling with rock shards of a dell or ground hollow which has had a cistern formed at its base. The resulting collection system is difficult, haphazard, costly and laborious to construct even in very small scale. The invention provides substantial solutions for the aforesaid problems band provides a roof structure which is relatively cheap and is able to cope with significant distortion due to ground movement and thermal excitement.
We have invented a zero height roof which can be easily scaled to cover very large land areas to create a rainwater catchment very cheaply. The down force of the mass of the roof is not carried entirely by the stay means (if at all) as is the case with the prior art device as the tension truss rests upon the ground or spacer means mounted upon the ground. There is a small gap between the roof sheeting or tiles and the underlying ground.
The zero height roof is a tensioned member, ground covering water collection system. The tension member is preferably a cable, wire or chain which is adapted to to be pulled taught between stay means anchored to the ground. The roof undercarriage is formed of a plurality of such members tensioned between stay means. Preferably the tension members are arranged parallel to each other and are pulled taught over an convex or arched ground surface.
The zero height roof in a preferred embodiment largely conforms to the underlying topography of the land over which it is tensioned and mounted and is therefore significantly different from the prior art in both objective and function. The volume under the zero height roof is therefore at least partially filled with the land which it covers. The zero height roof which is drawn tight over the arch or convex of land it covers and in effect houses the land it covers. It is a roof whose underlying “building” is the ground and whose contents is the ground.
In many respects the trusses and batons of the invention form a net over the ground they are laid over. The net conforms itself to the shape of the land underlying it because it is pulled tight over the shape of the ground like a tight elastic sock conforms itself to a foot when it is drawn over the foot. Of course in the light of the invention it can be seen that in order for the net to be pulled tight into conformity with a dell or hollow of the ground a portion of the net must be secured into the hollow by means capable of holding it in the dell or hollow so that it conforms to the shape of the dell or hollow and accordingly the invention in this broad form includes truss hold down means being secured to the ground and able to constrain the truss at that location it engages the truss to be at a small height relative the surface of the dell or hollow. Each of the trusses is an elongate member elongate along a respective axis. Each of the baton means is an elongate member elongate along a respective axis extending in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the truss it is mounted to.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the zero height roof is a tensioned truss, ground covering water collection system. The tension truss is an elongate member elongate along an axis and is preferably a cable, wire or chain which is adapted to be pulled tight by tensioning means between stay means anchored to the ground. The roof undercarriage is formed of a plurality of such trusses tensioned between stay means. Preferably the tension trusses are arranged parallel to each other and are pulled tight over a convex or a arched ground surface. Secured to the tension trusses are baton means and roof sheeting or tiles are mounted onto the baton means. There may be included spacer means between a tension truss and the ground. There may be included spacer means between a tension truss and a baton. There may be included spacer means between a baton means and a roof sheet/s or tile/s. Preferably each respective tension truss is held at or adjacent its ends by holding means associated with the stay means.
In a preferred alternative embodiment of the invention the zero height roof is a tensioned truss and tension baton ground covering water collection system. The tension truss is an elongate member elongate along an axis and is preferably a cable, wire or chain which is adapted to be pulled taught by tensioning means between stay means anchored to the ground. The roof undercarriage is formed of a plurality of such trusses tensioned between stay means. Preferably the tension trusses are arranged parallel to each other and are pulled taught over a convex or a arched ground surface. Secured to the tension trusses are tension baton means pulled taut between stay means and roof sheeting or tiles are mounted onto the tension baton means. Each of the tension baton means being elongate along a respective axis. There may be included spacer means between a tension truss and the ground. There may be included spacer means between a tension truss and a tension baton means. There may be included spacer means between a tension baton means and a roof sheet/s or tile/s. Preferably each respective tension truss is held at or adjacent its ends by holding means associated with the stay means. Preferably each respective tension baton means is held at or adjacent its ends by holding means associated with the stay means. Preferably the longitudinal axes of the tension trusses extend at a transverse angle relative to the longitudinal axes of the baton means.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention at least one truss is held aloft the ground surface by riser/spacer means such that there is a small distance between the truss and the ground.
The economic rationale for constructing a zero height roof is simple, for example, in Australia the average annual rainfall is approx 400 mm equating to 0.4 of a gigalitre per 100 hectares of land p.a. Evaporation rates may exceed the annual rainfall by a considerable margin. The rainfall run off rate may be less than 1% in many locations equating to 0.004 of a gigalitre annual runoff per 100 hectares. A zero height roof of 100 hectares operating in such environs would generate as much run off therefore as 10,000 similarly sited but uncovered hectares. When considering the Sydney Basin it can be seen in the historical record that it receives on average approx 1300 mm p.a. equivalent to 1.3 gigalitres per square kilometre or 100 hectares p.a. and at AU$3.00 per kilolitre sale price this equates to AU$3.9 million p.a. in earnings. A 5000 hectare site would produce approx 65 GL p.a. equivalent to AU$253.5 million earnings. On current pricing as of year 2007/8 we estimate the zero height roof could be constructed for approx $AU40.00 per square metre and there being 1,000,000 square metres per square kilometre or 100 hectares. A 5000 hectare zero height roof would cost therefore around than AU$2.0 billion and would return on average approx 14% on capital outlayed which is more than enough to service finance costs and operating expenses whilst turning a modest profit for the zero height roof owner. What is more the zero height roof is more than competitive with regards to desalination and other measures being proposed. The inventions' benefits become readily apparent when one considers that unlike desalination the zero height roof does not require an ongoing source of energy to produce its water as it simply collects rain falling from the sky. Because there is no conventional building as such under the roof there is a huge cost saving over conventional building methods.
The ground over which the invention is tensioned is preferably arched like a rainbow. The ground may be naturally arched such in topography or may be cut to this topographical shape by cutting means or it may have material added onto to it such that an arch is formed. Preferably the cutting means are machine cutting means but it is envisaged that animal or human means may be employed to do the job. Preferably the machine cutting means is laser guided. It is preferable that the invention be produced in the following manner: take a parcel of land having a length and a width, let the length be longer than the width such that in top plan view the parcel is rectangular, let the ground be arched as above with the arch extending across the width of the parcel, let there be stays placed adjacent the wide edges of the parcel, let tension trusses be laid out over the width of the parcel, let the trusses be tensioned between the stays with the stays holding the tension, let batons be located adjacent the trusses and then let there be roof sheeting mounted onto the trusses, let there be at least one gutter for collecting runoff from at least one of the wide edges of the zero height roof. In an alternative arrangement the trusses may be held aloft the ground surface by means of riser/spacer means. The riser/spacer means being sandwiched between the truss underside and the ground or a mounting pad located on and or in the ground. The invention is also suited to covering undulating ground and it is also suited to covering sloped ground. As stated above it is possible to add material to a portion of ground to form the arch over which the roof is tensioned. In a alternative embodiment of the invention a flexible bladder means is formed and laid upon the ground. The tension members are drawn tight over the bladder means which has been at least partially filled. The bladder means when at least partially filled and clamped to the ground forms an arch of its top surface. Preferably the bladder means may be filled with gas and or liquid however it is envisaged that solids may also be used to fill the volume of the bladder means. In yet another variation of the invention the bladder means may be filled with material which cures or sets such that the arch formed is solid having substantially no flexure. An advantage of using flexible bladder means to form an arch is that minor irregularities in the topography of the underlying land can be smoothed out or compensated against so that the upper surface of the bladder is unperturbed by the irregularity. Another advantage in an alternative embodiment is that the bladder means can be adapted to tension the tension members of the roof. The tension members being secured by securement or holding means to stay means and the bladder means filled below the tension members so as to lift the tension members aloft and into tension against their securement at their ends with the stay means. The bladder means may include at least one upper surface and at least one lower surface. Preferably the upper surface of the bladder means is flexible. Preferably the lower surface of the arch is flexible. It is envisaged that the bladder means be filled with liquid or gas and then solids are pushed into the internal volume of the bladder means so as to reduce the bladders' flexibility. A preferred bladder means may be formed of any suitable material but is not limited to the following list of materials: metal, plastic; polycarbonate; cellulose, rubber. In another variation the bladder means may be filled with hard setting foam akin in function to that which fills surf boards and the like. As an alternative to forming a bladder discrete from the roof is to use the roof sheeting or tile means as the upper surface of the bladder and the ground as the lower surface of the bladder. This allows the bladder so formed to be filled up so as to pump up the tension members of the roof into tension against the stay means. In yet another embodiment of the invention a roof is formed using roof sheeting means which forms the upper surface of a bladder and preferably the ground being the lower surface of the bladder. The ends of the roof are held by stay means at least until the volume under the roof has been filled with material and has lifted the roof into its arched shape. The stay means serving to anchor the so pumped up roof to the ground. With respect to filling bladder means of the invention a number of substances may be used to form the task. A particularly preferable filling material is vermiculite as a foam which may be set hard as it is used in heat protection for structural members in conventional buildings. Preferably however the bladder which may be used to form a suitably shaped profile for tensioning a roof over is a self contained unit from the undercarriage and roof sheeting or tiles of the roof. If the bladder means is of a type which has a top layer being a flexible membrane and the bottom layer being the underlying ground or layer upon it then it is preferable that the tension members be able to move independently of the bladder means so as expansion and contraction of the undercarriage can occur.
The zero height roof is preferably clad with non porous roofing cladding such as metal, plastic, polycarbonate or fibrous cement sheeting. Because in preferred forms of the invention the ground underlying the roof is cut off from rainfall events there is a strong likely hood in some circumstances for the ground underlying the roof to dry out and shrink. And to overcome this we have invented water introduction means. The invention therefore may include water introduction means located beneath the roof surface so that a quantity of water may be added to the underside of the roof thus offsetting against the possibility of excessive shrinkage due to dry out. The water introduction means may simply spill water onto the ground surface beneath the roof or in a preferred embodiment an outlet of the introduction system may be located under the ground surface so that the introduction is made into the ground at a depth distant from the zero height roof upper surface. To measure the amount of water in the ground under the zero height roof there may be included hydrology measurement means. The measurement means may take the form of a water sensitive probe located in the ground underlying the roof and or above the ground underlying the roof. The underside of the roof may include probes for measuring temperature, hydrological conditions or even sunlight so as to report any breach of the upper surface. The small volume under the roof may present a habitat for certain animals, insects and plants and to control this environment it may be needed that the ground is treated or coated with at least one substance which deters the use of the volume as a habitat. The sides of the zero height roof may need to be netted or filled in so as to restrict the passage of life forms under the roof or from the use of the roof as a refuge.
If there is a riser otherwise known as a spacer means employed to hold the truss a small distance above the ground in a particular rendition of our invention it may be of a fixed shape or dimension or it may be that the riser is made of spring material such that it may tension the truss to which it is employed to hold aloft the ground. The riser of the invention may be a post like member in some embodiments whereas in others it may be a channel type member. The function of the riser may be to hold the truss above the ground surface at a set height or a variable height. The riser means may be secured into the ground or it may be sat upon the ground as required.
Stay tensioning means of the invention may be hand adjustable tension means or hydraulic or magnetic or any other suitable arrangement such that the truss can be tensioned adequately for the purpose. The tensioning means may include mechanical tensioning ability. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the tensioning means may be incorporated into the truss of the invention. The truss of the invention may include at least one threaded end which can be passed through an eyelet or slot in a stay means so that the truss can be tightened between the stay means. Therefore it is evident that if required at least one truss of the invention may include means to tighten the truss between stay means.
The stay means of the invention may be adapted to stay at least one truss of the invention. It is preferable that each stay means restrain at least one truss. In another preferred embodiment a stay means may restrain more than one truss. The tensioning means may be preset or it may be dynamic so that the structure can cope with thermal expansion issues and or wind conditions.
The truss of the invention may be a length of rope or wire or cable or chain or flexible strip or strap or, it may be that a truss of the invention is formed of a combination of the above list. The material forming the truss may be formed of organic or inorganic material. It may be formed of fibre glass or carbon fibre for example. The truss of the invention may include securement lugs or features for the mounting of a baton system upon it. The securement lugs or features may be attached to the truss by whatever means is practicable. The securement lugs or features may be swagged on or bonded on or welded on or formed from the truss material. It is preferred that the trusses of the invention are separate units but in another preferred embodiment more than one truss is formed by a length of truss material.
The baton of the invention may be a tension member or a non tensioned member of the roof structure. In another preferred form of the invention both the truss and baton of the invention are tensioned between respective pairs of stay means. The baton of the invention may include a locating feature for engagement with the truss of the invention. The baton of the invention may include a locating feature for engagement with roof sheet or tile means.
The roof sheet or tile of the invention may include at least one locating feature for engagement with or mounting on by a baton of the invention. The roof sheet or tile is preferably substantially non porous such that water does not pass through it.
As stated above in some embodiments it is preferable to include in the invention at least one spacer means between the truss and the ground over which the truss is tightened. The spacer means may be rigidly attached to or joined with the truss it supports or alternatively it may be include at least one movement means allowing the truss to move along its longitudinal axis relative to the spacer means and the ground. Preferably the movement means may include at least one rolling element on which the truss rides. The said rolling element being a load bearing bearing member such that the truss is a akin to rail carried by the wheel of the said rolling element. In an alternative arrangement the spacer means may include at least one sliding bearing surface onto which is adapted to be carried the truss so that the truss can move relative to the spacer means. The sliding surface being a load carrying bearing surface for the carriage of the truss. The sliding surface allowing the truss to move along its longitudinal axis relative to the spacer means and the ground. The truss having at least one surface for being carried by the rolling element or sliding surface. By including in the invention movement means associated with the spacer means thermal expansion and contraction forces and movement associated with same in the truss can be catered for without undue side ways load on the spacer means. The truss is in tension and so as the truss expands or contracts with heat and cold the truss is able to move relative to the spacer means along its axis because the truss is tensioned along its axis. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the truss may include a rolling element and or sliding surface arrangement which can be bourne by the spacer means. The spacer means including at least one surface onto which the rolling element or sliding surface arrangement of the truss may move against. In yet a further alternative arrangement a rolling or sliding surface means may be included between the truss and the ground or space element so that the truss can move along its longitudinal axis during expansion and contraction due to thermal excitement. In respect to the idea of allowing the truss to move along its axis it is envisaged that the said movement means can aid in the initial set up of the roof such that in assembling the roof the truss is able to be moved along its axis over the movement means. It is also envisaged that the truss is able to be secured to the spacer or movement means such that the truss is constrained to have freedom of movement relative the spacer means or movement means only along the longitudinal axis of the truss. In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the truss is able to move both along its axis and along at least one axis being transverse relative to the truss longitudinal axis.
A zero height roof covering 5 square kilometres for example might expand and contract many millimetres due to thermal excitement of the truss material. By allowing the truss to move relative to the ground along its longitudinal axis and indeed transverse relative to its longitudinal axis the truss is able to ride the movement means or spacer means and thereby avoid excessive and potentially damaging unwanted loads on the truss and the spacer means.
The zero height roof may use conventional roofing sheeting attached to baton means and cable truss system which is pulled taught over the face of the ground and preferably kept in tension by tensioning means. In some embodiments of the invention a riser system is employed wherein the cable truss system is held above the ground surface such that a small gap is maintained between the truss and the land surface.
In a preferred forms of the invention the trusses and batons are flexible along their length and because at least the trusses are tensioned between stay means using dynamic tensioning means the structure is able to ride with the land it is mounted upon or over as and if it moves and also adjust to thermal expansion and contraction forces generated in the roof. This is a big inventive step forward over the prior art housing devices which are comparatively rigid and inflexible relative to the zero height roof and which fail with significant land movement
The invention in a preferred type employs cables to form a net like truss system which is arranged such that the cables are pulled taught over a hill or hill shaped stretch of land area. The trusses are preferably parallel to each other and overlaid and affixed with batons which are attached by attachment means to the trusses. The trusses are tensioned by tensioning means such that they are pulled tight over the contour of the ground. Roofing sheeting or tiles are attached to the batons. Preferably the batons are positioned above the or an upper surface of the trusses but may in some embodiments be partly positioned below the or an underside surface of the truss. In an alternative embodiment the trusses themselves may also be mounted to by the tiles or sheeting. Preferably the sheeting or tiles are formed such that they are corrugated or panned, although this is not always practicable. Preferably each truss is tensioned using adjustable tensioning means. The adjustment being preferably automatic and or manual in nature. A truss may be coated with a material or layers of material such that the truss is protected from the environment and in some circumstances if required within the confines of the particular embodiment wear against the soil which can be high in friction. In an alternative arrangement the truss may be laid into a channel type riser/spacer means for receiving the truss. The channel having an inner surface and an outer surface wherein the outer surface or at least a portion of it is in contact with the surface of the ground. The channel or spacer element being sandwiched between the cable and the ground. The channel may be formed of any conveniently suitable material or group of materials though plastic or metal is preferred. The riser/spacer may be U shaped and have a flat bottom or any suitable shape such that it is able to distribute load from the tensioned cable to the ground underlying the channel. The underside surface of the channel being preferably flat or possessing flats, although other surface shapes are contemplated. A riser channel may extend along the entire length of the truss or only a portion of its length and it is envisaged that a truss may be held aloft the ground surface by one or more riser/spacer means channels.
In a preferred form of the invention the truss is pulled tight over an arched strip of ground which may be of natural formation or be cut by machine means. It is preferable that each truss is a unit unto itself but it is envisaged that a cable be used to form one or more trusses of the system. It is preferable that the cable forming the truss be formed of metal wire but it is envisaged that other materials be used if and when the need arises. The truss may be formed from metal or glass fibre or carbon fibre or any suitable material or combination of materials. The batons of the system may be formed of any convenient material or combination of materials including but not limited to wood, metal, carbon fibre, plastic/s. The baton used in the system may be formed of wire or rod or bar. A baton may be a cable. A baton may be flexible along its longitudinal axis. A baton may be tensioned by tensioning means. The tensioning means may be incorporated into the baton or be associated with the stay means used to tension the baton. A truss may be formed from or include one or more cables or linked members. A baton may be formed from or include one or more cable or linked members.
The zero height roof may be used as a platform for a solar thermal water heating collector system. The roof sheeting of the invention may include a solar thermal heating system. The roof sheeting of the invention being close to the ground may be act as a thermal blanket trapping heat below the roof which can the be collected by heat collector means including fluid flow heat collector means. The ground underlying the zero height roof may be coated or other wise treated with a material which is able to absorb water vapor such that the underside of the roof does not sweat. The ground under the zero height roof may be treated so that its ph level is such that it does not form a strong alkali or strong acid such that the roof structure or portion of same is not corroded due either to contact with the ground or due to alkali or acid condensate due to sweating. The ground laying beneath the zero height roof may be treated such that it is a cide for at least one pest including insect pest or vermin or plant pests. Vermin proofing may be added to the underside of the roofed area and or to the or a edge of the zero height roof.
The invention is intended to be particularly useful for the provision of water to riparian systems which are drought stressed or otherwise having insufficient flow. For example the Murray and Darling rivers in Australia have had and may well continue to experience reduced water flow due to drought and to the over allocation of irrigation permits. The invention therefore in another preferred form includes the augmenting of these and other river systems with the invention. Another embodiment of the invention includes the setting up of at least one zero height roof in the range surrounding Sydney Australia and connecting it by piping means to the Warragamba dam either directly by pipe means or through at least one intermediate storage dam means and then by pipe means to the Warragamba dam and because of the large fall from the range top to the water level in the Warragamba dam it is possible to use the fall to generate electricity for use by energy consumers. The system, that is the zero height roof and the piping means and generating means and location of the zero height roof at the range top can act as an emergency power supply for the Sydney basin and surrounding environs. The piping may also be used to transfer water uphill from the Warragamba dam so that green energy producers have means made available to them to store electricity, that is pumped storage means.
Some parts of Queensland Australia and the far north eastern corner of N.S.W are very high rainfall areas, In fact there are a number of locations in these two states which receive in excess of 2000 mm of rainfall per annum and there are even places within these two states which receive more than 5000 mm per annum. It is envisaged that rainwater may be harvested by the zero height roof in at least one of these areas and preferably a piping system connected so as to pipe water from the said area to an area experiencing water scarcity. There is a fear amongst some in the community that water redirected from tropical environs to arid regions may bring with it life forms which are environmentally dangerous in an arid environment. The said life form being not from the and environment could hypothetically wreak havoc due to environmental competitiveness unbalancing. The zero height roof substantially overcomes this situation developing due to the fact that it will act as an interceptor of rainfall before it makes contact with the tropical landscape. The zero height roof prevents the water coming in contact with the land and the piping means further ensures that it remains out of contact with the environment. In far north Queensland for example there are sites which receive 8000 mm rainfall per annum so a one square kilometre zero height roof would on average receive eight gigalitres of rain per annum. A hundred square kilometers sized zero height roof would therefore be able to harvest 800 gigaliters per annum and by our estimates on current pricing would cost AU$5.0 billion approximately. On these numbers the zero height roof owner could sell the water harvested at AU$1.00 per kilolitre and still earn AU$800,000,000.00 per annum. A desalination plant for example capable of producing 800 GL of potable water per year would have a cost many multiples that of the zero height roof What is more desalination requires ongoing energy consumption to drive the desalination process and hence a substantial ongoing operational cost which must be bourne by the consumer or desalination plant owner. The invention is free from this cost and so it is evident that the service to mankind by our invention is enormous.
In many instances it may be that a suitable site for the erection of the invention will be located at a significant elevation relative to the eventual outlet of a piping system used for piping the water off the roof or storage means and so it is feasible in these circumstances to use the fall from the pipe inlet to its outlet to drive electric turbine means for the generation of electricity. It can be seen therefore that the zero height roof in many instances could be a contributor to energy reserves rather than a user of it as is the case with desalination and even for that matter ground water pumping arrangements.
The invention in another broad form includes the covering of a ground hollow or dell with the zero height roof, the ground hollow or dell being generally a concave arch. In this preferred embodiment the trusses of the roof are pulled tight along their respective longitudinal axes by tensioning means and the trusses are held close to the ground intermittently along the longitude of each truss by riser means which have been secured to the ground. The trusses are mounted to by baton means and tiles or sheeting means mounted atop of the baton means. In embodiments of the invention wherein the roof includes at least one concave roof portion it is preferable that the roof sheeting or tiles be highly reflective so that sunlight falling upon the reflective surface/s can be concentrated onto a collector means. The collector means being situated above the roof at a suitable focus distance.
The invention in another preferred embodiment is adapted to conform to undulating land such that the zero height roof includes at least one convex arch and at least one concave arch.
The invention in yet another broad embodiment includes tension batons which are tensioned between stay means which are adapted to be mounted onto non tensioned truss means. The tension batons being elongate along an axis extending in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truss. One must understand though that when we speak of axis of the truss or axis of the baton member that in some embodiments of the invention the truss and or the baton are not straight because they extend over an arch or around an arch so that the respective axis it is not straight. The tension batons are mounted on by tiles or roof sheeting. There may be included at least one spacer means between a respective truss and baton. The non tensioned truss may be laid out upon the ground or alternatively it may be held aloft the ground a small distance by truss raising spacer/riser means.
In still another embodiment of the invention the truss is a tension truss tensioned between stay means. The batons are adapted to be mounted to the underside of the truss and are elongate along an axis extending at an angle which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truss. The roof sheeting or tile means are located above the truss and the baton means and attached to the baton means by attachment means. Preferably the truss is held a small distance aloft the ground by the baton means, the baton means acting as spacer means for the truss relative to the ground.
Preferably the truss is a cable or like flexible member or collection of members and it may be equipped with eyelet or the like means at or adjacent its ends so that the eyelet or like means is able to be engaged by the stay means it is anchored to. It is envisaged however that the tension truss or tension baton of the invention (if it includes tension batons) may be tensioned by gripping its ends and pulling it tight by pulling the ends in opposite directions. But in an alternative arrangement the truss or baton means may be tensioned by stay means along the length of the baton means or truss means so that there is at least one stay means at either end of the truss and at least one stay means tensioning the truss between the stay means at the end of the truss.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention the tension truss may be held aloft the ground by at least one spacer means, the spacer means may be in the form of a channel and the roof sheeting or tiles may be attached to the spacer means, the spacer means being elongate along an axis being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truss.
It is preferable in still yet another embodiment of the invention that the cable or like flexible member which forms the truss or baton be coated with at least one layer of protective material such there is a protective skin over at least a portion of the surface of the truss aiding in longevity of the structure. It is intended that the invention be a infrastructure having a very long service life.
In all forms of the invention it is preferable the roof sheeting or tile is affixed to the undercarriage without recourse to fastener means which pierce the roof sheeting. It is not however mandatory. In fact it is preferable in some situations that the roof sheeting or tile is affixed to the appropriate members of the undercarriage by piecing fastener means. There may be included spacer means extending between the relative underside surface of the roof sheeting/tile means and the baton means. The spacer means may be an intermediate member or members laying between the sheeting and the baton means preferably.
A super catchment facility may include one or more zero height roofs. In an especially preferred embodiment of a super catchment facility there is included at least two zero height roofs being rectangular in shape when viewed in top plan view and being parallel to each other.
The zero height roof intercepts rainwater before it may strike the ground and the water catch may require to be stored for later use accordingly we have found that it is preferable to site at least one storage means under the zero height roof for this purpose. Preferably it is positioned below the ground underlying the roof or below the zero height roof. The storage means may require to be accessed by man and or machine and therefore an entrance to it can be made through n created aperture in the roof upper surface or a passage/s can be formed which extends through the soil underlying the roof. We also envisage that a pathway may need to extend to the storage means from a boundary edge of the roof. In some circumstances it may be necessary to build a work space under a small portion or area of the roof, the work space being sunken into the ground. It is also envisaged that the roof may need to be protected from direct engagement with a lightning strike and accordingly the invention may include electrode means extending above the roof to intercept lightning before it can strike the roof proper. Also the roof may need to be grounded to earth for safety reasons.
The roof sheeting or tiles used to form the roof may be made of any suitable material. It is a preference that the roof sheeting or tiles be made of metal. It is preferable that they are corrugated sheet. However it is preferred that at least some of the roof sheeting or tiles of the roof are photovoltaic collector means so that the zero height roof is an electricity generating device as well as a water collection system. It is preferable that an embodiment of the invention include photo voltaic collector means, solar thermal collector means as well as function to collect rainwater falling from the sky.
Tornadoes, willi-willies and hurricanes are a danger to buildings enclosing air volumes due to pressure differential between that of the air in the enclosed volume and the ultra low localized pressure in the weather phenomenon accordingly the invention may include air outlet means allowing for the rapid evacuation of air from beneath the sheeting or tiles so as they are not subjected to explosive stress and potential roof destruction. There may be included one gate means in the roof surface which can open in response to pressure build up under the roof as required.
The tiled dell or ground hollow of the prior art is extremely laborious to make. The tile means formed of rock chips/shards are not mounted on a frame but are overlapingly cascade stacked upon each other relying on friction to hold them in place. The surface created by the shards is not predictably water tight and can fail allowing water to flow under the surface created presenting a considerable problem of erosion and silting of the cistern. The shards may be easily dislodged by earth quake or ground movement and there remains the constant threat of avalanche. The undercarriage of the zero height roof secures its tiles or roof sheeting means in place avoiding this problem. The roof sheeting or tiles in the zero height roof are regular in shape and therefore the labor component of construction on site is less also.
It is preferred that the land surface to be clad with the zero height roof system is rectangular and convex in shape. The zero height roof is a very cheap construction method which features the placement of a preferably metal wire or fibre cable grid or net system over the convex arched land surface or mound, at least some of the wire and or fibre are laid out at least generally parallel along the curve of the arc of convexity such that suction forces caused by wind blow-by are carried by the wires and or cables laid out along the arc of convexity are pulled into tension or at least more into tension. The wires and or cables are adapted to be attached to stanchions or stays or pegs at their ends or anywhere practicable an between depending on requirements. The roof sheeting/tile means may be fashioned such that they have surface geometries suitable for mounting and or aligning. Mounting means may be formed from the roof sheeting/tile means material from a roll or sheet or they could be added later if desired. Another preferred embodiment of the zero height roof may be formed such that it is adapted to cover a combination of convex and concave surfaces. Or even straight surfaces can be utilized depending on desire.
Generally speaking preferably: with careful selection of sloping lands, easily amenable to terra-forming, having good clean cutting soil structure and high fibre mass ratio the risks and coast can be kept very low. The well formed land surface may be covered with a grid and or cable system onto which may be securely mounted roofing sheeting/tiles means of highly water proof cladding material.
A preferred method of implementation of the invention. Select land with nice top soil, loam having a low clay content preferably, the land being slightly sloped or flat, then shape strips of its surface to form arches, have gutters at the arch ends, drape cables or equivalents over the length (convex length) of the arch and tension between stays, place batons over cable truss system and secure to cable trusses, clad over the batons with roof sheeting or tiles and secure such thereon. Preferably the cable truss being protectively coated and allowed to rest on the ground surface or held slightly aloft using riser/spacer means. Site selection is critical but relatively easy. Arch means is best result in relation to anti=lift qualities, plus it is a common and natural land shape. Of course this is a very simple version but the basic idea is there.
Generally speaking with regards to the invention unless otherwise excluded the truss is a tension member of the roof sheeting cladding mounting system employed in the invention, however the baton systems used in the invention may also be tension members. Tension and baton members are generally disposed at an angle to each other such that they are at right angles to each other, but, they can be at a more acute or obtuse angle id desired. The trusses are laid out as they are in a house or building and the batons are laid out as they are in a regular setting. The batons are adapted to be attached to ? secured to the tension truss members or an intermediate member or interconnecting means arrangement. In the convex arched version of the device the having tensioned truss means the trusses compress the ground underneath the them. The tension member is tensioned between at least two stay means so that it is tight, preferably. Preferably the tension member or member it engages has location/securement features. Preferably these features are bonded on, or clamped on, or mounted onto the tension member so that they can serve to locate the batons of the system in a desired location relative to the respective truss means. It is preferable that the truss is a strap or laminated structure or woven or knitted or braided or twisted fibre or a wire, cable, rod, bar, pipe channel, beam chain—so long as it is flexible transverse to its longitudinal axis, preferably it is relatively scratch resistant, fire resistant, corrosion resistant. Preferably it is a strap of metal tape or fibre glass fibre or even an extruded structure.
The side edges of the zero height roof may be tied down or pinned down. Side tie down pins or pegs can prevent uplift of the side edge of the zero height roof relative to the ground an accordingly can be utilized in all embodiments of the invention if desired. Preferably the tension members which located close to any of the side edges are stronger than those in the roof middle portions so they can assist in extra holding down of the side/s of the roof in high wind events.
We often say surface of the ground but we also include in this statement the upper surface of a bladder means if it is substituted for soil as the surface over which the zero eight roof is tensioned or laid out. Furthermore it is envisaged that the surface of the ground may be covered or at least partially covered with at least one layer of material to seal off the ground from the undercarriage of the roof or portion of same and so we include the layer atop the ground for this purpose the surface of the ground.
Many small variations of the invention are possible but the variations should not be seen as diminishing the scope and spirit of the invention. It is envisaged that various inventive aspects and integers of the embodiments may be swapped or interchangeable from one embodiment of the invention to another and these will not limit the scope nor damage the spirit of the invention.
Like numbers and objects have like meanings and functions and accordingly the drawings and we encourage the reader to mix and match components and integers from the disclose and drawings to any other embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.
a, 49b and 49c are schematic isometric views,
a, 54b and
a to
a, 49b and 49c are schematic isometric views of the invention 10 as it is being erected. As can be seen the zero height roof is pulled tight around a convex arch.
a is sectional schematic end view of an embodiment of the invention 10 including spring type riser/spacer means 7a, 7b, 7d holding the truss 2i aloft the surface of the ground/arch 1 over which the roof is tensioned. The riser/spacer means may be sprung or formed of spring material. The spring function of the riser/spacer system used as a self regulating tension adjustment system for the tension truss means.
b is is a sectional schematic end view of an embodiment of the invention 10 wherein is can be seen that the riser spacer means holding the truss 2i aloft the ground are pipe baton means allowing water to be piped around the roof whilst saving space. Riser/spacer means for holding the truss aloft the ground surface/surface of arch. The riser/spacer system maybe a pipe through which water may be piped.
a is an isometric view of a roof sheet/tile of the invention which includes a small hole through its upper surface leading through to its lower surface for allowing a small amount of water through so that the water so let through may act to re-hydrate the underlying soil. Preferably at least one of the roof sheets/tile means cladding the batons of the invention includes a hole for this purpose. Hole in Tile Sheet or through cladding layer allowing water flow through a portion of the tile sheet thuswise allowing water to reach the ground underlying the cladding and thereby avoiding ground shrink back resulting in structural failure.
b shows a spring like riser/spacer means for holding the truss aloft the surface of the arch a small distance in an un-sprung compression height. The spring riser spacer means and compression springs. Concertina folded spring or rigid riser system.
c shows a sectional end view of a spring riser/spacer means in an un-sprung position. Note: un-sprung height A.
d shows the spring riser means of
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007900941 | Feb 2007 | AU | national |
2007900978 | Feb 2007 | AU | national |
2007901229 | Feb 2007 | AU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/AU2008/000246 | 2/25/2008 | WO | 00 | 8/17/2009 |